There doesn't seem to be an end to the conflict between Diego Costa and Chelsea, as the striker won't leave the club to join a team he doesn't want to.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Costa went all out and admitted he wants to join Atlético Madrid and no other team. In response, the Blues have decided to hand him a £300,000 fine him for failing to return to the team's training sessions.
"I want to play for Atlético. I'm waiting for Chelsea to let me leave. I've spoken with Chelsea's director, Marina Granovskaia and I told here that if Conte doesn't want me there, then I want to play for Atlético," Costa stated.
The Brazilian-born player, currently on leave from the club, aimed a dig against Conte for his lack of touch with his players. In fact, Costa exposed Conte for lying about his absence against Leicester City, in what many saw as a disciplinary action for sharing his desire to leave the club.
"He lacks charisma. He's cold and distant with the players. He came in from Serie A, where everybody is more serious. In Chelsea's locker room there are a lot more jokes. About that game, he punished me for my attitude, and he went on to say I had back problems," Costa added.
The Italian coach and the Spanish striker, pictured back before their relationship hit a speed bump.
The striker revealed how things went down when he received the now infamous text message where Conte revealed he didn't want him around this season.
"I was with the Spain national team, alone in my room, when it came through. It was a shock to get it like that. I was showing it to my team-mates and they could not believe how he had done it. I was angry at the time. Now I am more calm. I have not deleted the message. It was clear, saying that he didn't count on me and wishing me the best for the future. Full stop," Costa narrated.
In fact, the Spaniard admitted he would be OK with living his contract out without even being paid, so that he could re-join Los Colchoneros.
"'I am open to being a year in Brazil without playing, even if Chelsea fine me for a year and don't pay me. I'll come back stronger. If I was in the wrong, I'd go back now and do as they say. I'm not a criminal! I don't think it is fair after all I have done to be treated like that," Costa concluded.
